Temporal and spatial patterns of the synthesis of tissue-specific polypeptides in the preimplantation mouse embryo.

Mouse embryos at different morphological stages in the transition from morula to blastocyst were analysed for the qualitative pattern of their polypeptide synthesis. The first appearance of the individual species of polypeptides specific to trophectoderm or ICM occurred progressively over this developmental period. Populations of inside cells recovered from morulae and early blastocysts synthesized those polypeptides previously shown to be characteristic of ICMs at 31/2 days, but not those characteristic of trophectoderm.